Mike Shanahan energized by Redskins' bold move to get Griffin

March 30, 2012|By Mike Berardino, Sun Sentinel

The Washington Redskins have done a lot of stupid things during Daniel Snyder’s ownership, and perhaps in time giving up a boatload of draft picks for the No. 2 overall pick — and either Robert Griffin III or (less likely) Andrew Luck — will prove to be among them.

But most Miami Dolphins fans probably wish their team had been so bold earlier this month. Instead, they’re following blow-by-blow updates from Ryan Tannehill’s Pro Day and debating the merits of Brandon Weeden and Kirk Cousins.

So, how did it feel to pull off the big deal for a potential franchise quarterback?

“It felt great,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said this week at the NFL owners meetings. “[The Rams] asked us to make our best offer. When you do, you’re never sure if it’s going to work or not. You make an offer you think will give you the best chance to get in position to get a franchise guy and we felt very good when we did it.”

And when it was accepted, was there hooping and hollering?

“You’re excited,” Shanahan said. “I’m not sure there was a lot of hooping and hollering …”

He smiled.

“But yeah,” Shanahan admitted, “I would say there was probably a lot of hooping and hollering.”

This from a man who already has three Super Bowl rings at home, including two as a head coach.

What about going without a first-round pick in 2013 and 2014? Isn’t that dangerous for a franchise?

“I think that’s what you have to make a decision on: What’s in the best interest of the franchise?” Shanahan said. “That’s what you get paid to do. To get that franchise quarterback is pretty tough. I’ve been in this league for awhile. They just don’t fall off of trees. If you can get a guy you feel is a franchise quarterback, then you have to make the decision if it’s in the best interest of your organization. We felt it was.

“You have to feel very good about both players when you get the second pick or you don’t make the trade. If you’re going to say, ‘Hey, I just like one guy,’ then obviously you’re disappointed if that guy is not the right guy.”

Either way, in Washington they feel they’re going to get the “right guy” to be their quarterback for the next 10 years.

The Dolphins? They’re still looking.

They weren’t willing to overpay for the privilege of drafting in the top two for the third time in the past eight years.

“When I think back about when the Broncos got John Elway, I don’t think anybody looks back and says, ‘Hey, did we overpay?’ ” Shanahan said. “To get a guy like that doesn’t happen very often. So if you’ve got an opportunity to get a guy you feel is a franchise quarterback, I think you’ve really helped your organization for the long term.”